"It Doesn't Have to Be This Way, There Is Another Way of Doing It": An Interview with Jacob "Stitch" Duran

This oral history examines Jacob "Stitch" Duran's journey from the agricultural fields of California's San Joaquin Valley to his renowned status as one of the most distinguished cutmen in combat sports history. It argues that Stitch's life and career reveal the exploitative practices of the combat sports industry, demonstrating how a non-fighter championed workers' rights and provided an alternative way of navigating and resisting a system built on exploitation. As a cutman, Stitch played a pivotal role in fighters' corners, treating injuries such as cuts, swelling, and nosebleeds between rounds to ensure they could continue competing. This oral history highlights his working-class Chicano roots and commitment to labor justice, tracing his early experiences in a migrant camp, his career with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), and his involvement in high-profile fights at Madison Square Garden. The interview also explores his controversial dismissal from the UFC after publicly criticizing its outfitting policy, as well as his lasting impact on the craft of the cutman and his contributions to the film industry. This work not only documents the dignified and entrepreneurial journey of a non-fighter within the brutal arena of combat sports, but also represents the first scholarly work to center a professional cutman in the field of sports history.